Badiola, 'Laderas', Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain

This new fantastic winery was founded in 2018, is a winery based in the heart of Rioja Alavesa which offers a new perspective on Rioja wines: here the emphasis is on site (terroir) , rather than ageing. The vineyards are situated on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria, predominantly surrounding the villages of Villabuena, Leza, Laguardia and Baños del Ebro, with each terroir producing wines with distinctive character. The vines are extremely old and low yielding; many were planted in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and they deliver concentrated juice with each having a clear identity. ‘Laderas’ means hillside and this wine takes its name from the hillside vineyards on which the grapes are grown.

This Tempranillo has is pure and precise aromas of cherries and red berries which are layered with herbal notes of thyme through to a textured palate. This wine shows excellent balance between fresh natural acidity, fruit concentration, very easy to drink.